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Area Director Clinical Operations Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary The Senior Director, Clinical Operations, is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the Company's clinical development ...

Director, Clinical Operations

Parsippany, NJ · On-site

$210K - $272K/yr

Experience managing cross-functional teams or work groups as well as direct reports. * Demonstrated understanding of pharmaceutical regulatory requirements and impact on development of clinical ...

Experience managing cross-functional teams or work groups as well as direct reports. * Demonstrated understanding of pharmaceutical regulatory requirements and impact on development of clinical ...

Experience managing cross-functional teams or work groups as well as direct reports. * Demonstrated understanding of pharmaceutical regulatory requirements and impact on development of clinical ...

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Area Director Clinical Operations information

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$60K

$146K

$282.5K

How much do area director clinical operations jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for area director clinical operations in the United States is $145,969.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,000.00 and $173,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an area director clinical operations do?

An Area Director of Clinical Operations oversees the management and execution of clinical trials or healthcare operations across multiple sites within a specific region. They are responsible for ensuring that clinical activities comply with regulatory standards, maintaining high-quality patient care, managing budgets, and supporting clinical staff. Additionally, they play a key role in developing and implementing operational strategies, optimizing processes, and collaborating with other departments to achieve organizational goals.

How does an area director clinical operations typically support and collaborate with site managers and clinical teams across multiple locations?

As an Area Director of Clinical Operations, you play a pivotal role in bridging communication between executive leadership and clinical site teams. You will regularly collaborate with site managers to ensure clinical protocols are upheld, address operational challenges, and implement process improvements. Your responsibilities include conducting site visits, facilitating training, monitoring key performance metrics, and fostering a culture of compliance and patient-centered care. Building strong relationships with cross-functional teams is essential to streamline workflows and support the professional development of your teams.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an area director clinical operations, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Area Director of Clinical Operations, you need strong leadership abilities, comprehensive knowledge of clinical protocols, and typically a degree in nursing or healthcare administration, often complemented by several years of management experience. Familiarity with clinical management software, quality assurance systems, and regulatory compliance tools is essential, and certifications like CPHQ or an advanced nursing license can be advantageous. Excellent communication, strategic thinking, and conflict resolution skills help you effectively lead teams and drive operational improvements. These competencies are crucial for ensuring high-quality patient care, regulatory compliance, and efficient clinical operations across multiple sites.

What is the difference between Area Director Clinical Operations vs Clinical Operations Manager?

AspectArea Director Clinical OperationsClinical Operations Manager
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in healthcare, life sciences, or related field; often with management experienceBachelor's or Master's in healthcare, life sciences, or related field; management experience preferred
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple sites or regions, strategic planning, high-level leadershipManages daily operations at a specific site or smaller region, focuses on team management
Employer & Industry UsagePharmaceutical companies, CROs, healthcare organizationsHospitals, clinics, research organizations, CROs

The main difference is that the Area Director Clinical Operations oversees multiple sites or regions with a focus on strategic leadership, while the Clinical Operations Manager handles daily operational management at a specific site or smaller area. Both roles require relevant healthcare or life sciences credentials, but the scope and level of responsibility differ.

What cities are hiring for Area Director Clinical Operations jobs?

Cities with the most Area Director Clinical Operations job openings:

What states have the most Area Director Clinical Operations jobs?

States with the most job openings for Area Director Clinical Operations jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Area Director Clinical Operations jobs?

For Area Director Clinical Operations jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Senior Director, Clinical Operations

On-site, Remote

Alira Health
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing • 51 - 200 employees

Full-time

Re-posted 12 days ago


Job description

🔗Are you being referred to one of our roles by a connection in Alira Health? If so, please apply using the referral link emailed to you.
Join our global team dedicated to innovation and initiative, where physical walls and different time zones don't limit, but encourage, collaboration. Where all contributions and new ideas are explored with an open mind and work is driven by our shared values: be courageous, be accountable, be honest, be inclusive and elevate others.
Job Description Summary
Job Description
The Senior Director, Clinical Operations, is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the Company's clinical development operations. The Senior Director, Clinical Operations provides oversight of Clinical Development Operations, Nonclinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing/CMC Operations, and Program Management, while partnering closely with R&D, Finance, Investor Relations, Legal, and the CEO to ensure efficient execution of corporate objectives. This role is accountable for translating the clinical operations strategy into operational execution, driving cross-functional alignment, ensuring compliance with global regulatory requirements, maintaining operational excellence, and supporting the advancement of the Company's development pipeline from research through commercialization.
The ideal candidate will possess biotech or pharmaceutical industry background, demonstrated leadership across multiple clinical operations disciplines, and some experience in building and scaling clinical operations organizations in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Corporate Leadership & Strategic Operations
• Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and participate in corporate strategy development.
• Lead day-to-day company clinical operations to ensure implementation and execution of strategic, development, and commercial objectives.
• Drive clinical operations organizational effectiveness, cross-functional communication, and execution accountability.
• Develop clinical operational plans to support corporate growth, financing activities, partnerships, and strategic initiatives.
• Identify clinical operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.
Clinical Development Operations
• In charge of executive oversight of clinical operations activities across all development programs.
• In charge of efficient execution of clinical trials, including site activation, enrollment, monitoring, data management, safety reporting, and vendor oversight. The main focus is on the Phase 2a timely execution and progress according to established timelines.
• Partner with Medical Development leadership to ensure achievement of program milestones and timelines.
• Ensure adherence to GCP and applicable regulatory requirements.
Nonclinical Development
• Oversee non-clinical development vendors, consultants, activities, including pharmacology, toxicology, bioanalytical projects.
• Ensure nonclinical studies are executed in accordance with GLP requirements and development objectives.
• Coordinate nonclinical strategy with clinical, regulatory, and CMC functions to support development objectives.
Regulatory Affairs
• Provide strategic oversight for regulatory planning and execution.
• Supervise Regulatory Affairs leadership to support INDs, meeting requests, briefing packages, annual reports, and planning for marketing applications.
• Collaborate with regulatory authorities and external advisors to advance development programs and maintain compliance.
• Ensure alignment of development activities with regulatory expectations and corporate objectives.
Quality Assurance & Compliance
• Oversee Quality Assurance leadership, company-wide quality systems and compliance processes.
• Responsible for compliance with GCP, GLP, GMP, ICH guidelines, FDA regulations, and other applicable global regulations.
• Promote a culture of quality, continuous improvement, and operational excellence
Manufacturing, CMC & Supply Chain
• Responsible for oversight of CMC team, consultants, development, manufacturing operations, supply chain activities, and external CDMO relationships.
• Ensure timely delivery of clinical supplies and initiate commercial supply planning in accordance with timelines, budgets, and quality requirements.
• Direct CMC team to support process development, technology transfer, scale-up activities, and manufacturing readiness.
• Continuously assess and mitigate manufacturing and supply chain risks.
Program Management
• In charge of establishing, updating and managing integrated development plans and cross-functional processes.
• Ensure alignment of clinical, regulatory, quality, nonclinical, and manufacturing activities.
• Continuously monitor program timelines, contracts, budgets, resource allocation, and critical path activities.
• Lead program processes and executive portfolio reviews.
Financial & Business Operations
• Partner closely with the Chief Financial Officer and Finance team on budgeting, forecasting, and operational expenditures.
• Support annual planning processes and long-range strategic planning.
• Establish financial processes across operational functions.
• Implement outsourcing strategies and resource allocation decisions.
• Contribute to Board presentations, investor discussions, due diligence activities, and business development initiatives
External Partnerships
• Build and maintain productive relationships with CROs, CDMOs, consultants, academic institutions, investigators, and strategic partners.
• Support business development, PR, alliance management, and partnership activities as needed.
• Represent the Company in interactions with investors, regulators, partners, and industry organizations
Preferred Qualifications and Experience
Education and Experience
• Advanced scientific degree (RN, PhD, PharmD, MD, MS) or equivalent experience preferred.
• MBA or business management training strongly preferred
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life sciences organizations.
• Significant experience overseeing multiple development functions, including clinical operations, regulatory affairs, quality, and manufacturing.
• Demonstrated success leading programs through IND-enabling activities, through all clinical stages of development (from Phase 0 to III), and regulatory interactions.
• Experience operating within emerging-growth or publicly traded biotechnology companies preferred.
• Proven experience managing outsourced development and manufacturing networks.
Languages
English
Education
Bachelor of Science (BS): Life Sciences
Contract Type
Regular
Salary Range
The final offer will be determined within the applicable location-specific range and will depend on the candidate's confirmed work location, relevant experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and role scope.
USA: USD $175,000 - 195,000 annually